The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-06-24
The Captured flags.

WASHINGTON. ID. e., June l6.-The
following letter va s5nt TO he SecrvJa-
~ Of War by the President to-day IN
in regard ID the disposition % the Il .gs
captured Oy the Union forces during the
late war:
haye to-day considered with more care
than when the subject was orally presented
to me the action Of yOar Department direct
ing letters to be addressed TO the Governors
to the loyal States the UuiOn flags captured
during the W6r of the Rebellion by the Con-
iedeTate forces and sftsTwlrG recovered by
Government troops, and t1 the Confederate
State the flags captured by the Union
forces, al OF which for many years have
been packed In boxes and stored IN the Gel
lar and attic Of the War Department. l am
OF the opinion that the return Of the flags IN
the mzHaer thus contemplated Is not author
lied 5y existing law nST justified as az Exc
cutive act / request, therefore, that no
further steps be taken IN the matter except
10 examine and inventory these flags and
adopt proper measures for their preserga-
tiOn- Any direction as To the final dispotion
OF them should originate with Congress.
Yours, truly,
GROVER CLEy yELAND.
The following settlement with regard
10 tie Presidents action concerning the
proposed return Of the battle flags was
made al ths White House Tonight TO a
representative OF the Associated Press :
When ths question WAS proposed 10
the President by the AdjIJant General
an important feature suggested VAS the
return TO the log al Safes Of the flags
which haf been captured hy the Cor
fedeTate5 and retaken by cur army a.
the lime Of the collapse OF the rebellion
TLey, with such Confederate figs as
hao been captured from the enemy by
our troops, had, u as represented. for
long time lain uEcaTed for and neglect
ed. picked away III boxes in The cellar OF
the War Depart ment, aud had been re-
moved 10 the attic as a better place for
their safe keeping. the disposition of
the flags, which seemed TO be ans Hsring
no good purpose where they were. Vas
the main point; and the consideration
was presented 10 the President that
some hsgs had been returned 10 loyaI
States upon their request in individual
cases and the rest, If desired, might as
well all be returned together The re-
turn OF the Confederate flags which
were with the others in the Department
was suggested, but there Was not the
slightest thought oC interfering in any
way with the captured flags now held
Dy any Safe. The fact. apparently t.
ceivsd with favor by the cOnntry, that
lately in one OF more cases Northern
troops visiting their late antagonists al
the South had returned 20 them flags
which had been captured in battle from
those whose hOspitalities they were Ie-
ceiviug the further fact that Northern
troops who wi.hin short time had been
visiting Southern battle fields had spDk-
en- in thr waTmest terms OF the kind and
hospitable treatment they had received
from former Confederate soldiers, and
the tact too, that soldiers from the
North aud Sauth were JUS gathering at
Washington 10 meet ia friendly compe-
titiln a. the national dr!Il, seemed to
indicate that if the U2iOn hags were
returned to The loyal ates which had
lost them in battle l. would not be in
consistent wi.h Jhe fTaternal sentiment.
which seemed 10 Ge prevalent, TO Offer
at the same time 20 the Governors of
the States formerly in rebellion a return
OF the flags which We had taken from
their soldiers
The right Of the Department " make
these returns being questioned bv the
President, such right Was distinctly
asserted aud FTeceIeuts alleged aud
thereupou his Urai assent was given 10
the proposed action. Tue matter was
dismissed fIum lis mind uutii comment
thersUrOn within the last day OF two
bTOugh, 4 again 20 us attention. Upon
personally examining the law aud con-
siderinC tie subi-ct more carefully, he
SATISFIED himself Jhat no disposition os
these Il .gs could 5e mIde without Con
gressiOual action wheTeupon he direct
ed suspension of operations by ths
letter made public this evening.